Autochthon 2022

Tasting Note for Autochthon White 2022 by Bencze Birtók

Colour & Appearance

A distinctly hazy gold-yellow in the glass, which visually hints at its natural style right from the start.

Nose

The wine opens in a wild and reductive fashion – a short spell in the decanter will do it good. It gradually reveals complex aromas of wild herbs such as sage, mint and rosemary, backed by juicy wild pear, quince and tart grapefruit. Ethereal hints of lemon verbena and linden blossom combine with youthful yeasty notes to create a masterly, multi-layered opening.

Palate

On the palate, it presents an explosion of freshness: notes of crunchy peach and preserved lemon meet a striking volcanic minerality. At a lean 11.5% ABV, the play between taut acidity and subtle texture delivers a captivating, effortless drinkability.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes hail from the majestic volcanic Szent György-hegy on the northern shore of Hungary’s Lake Balaton. István Bencze has farmed the estate according to strict biodynamic principles since 2011. The vines root deeply here into massive basalt soils, interspersed with clay and iron-rich brown earth.

Grape Variety & Vinification

This cuvée blends the indigenous grape varieties Furmint, Hárslevelű and the rare Kéknyelű. To capture the ideal level of ripeness, the grapes are hand-harvested in several passes. Following a brief period of skin contact, the wine undergoes a gentle fermentation and matures unfiltered and without any oenological additives in amphorae.

Food Pairings

Outstanding with pan-fried char with herb butter, torched mackerel, dishes with meadow herbs or roasted cauliflower with lemon tahini.

Key Features

A fascinating interpretation of Hungarian natural wine: this rare cuvée of traditional varieties matures in terracotta vessels, uniting the biodynamic energy of the Szent György-hegy with wild volcanic minerality.